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As the Baltimore Ravens prepare to face the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium this Sunday, they are acutely aware of the significance of this AFC North showdown. Despite being regarded as one of the top teams in the conference and a Super Bowl contender, Baltimore has struggled against their rivals. Since the start of the 2022 season, Pittsburgh has won seven out of eight matchups against the Ravens.

Head Coach John Harbaugh emphasized the importance of winning divisional games to secure the division title. "If you want to win the division, you have to win division games," Harbaugh stated. With both teams near the top of the standings, this game could set the tone for the rest of the season.

One of the key reasons for the Ravens' recent struggles against the Steelers is the limited participation of quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson has started only three of the last eight games against Pittsburgh, missing games due to COVID, ankle and knee injuries, and strategic rest. In his four career starts against the Steelers, Jackson has a 66.8 quarterback rating, his lowest against any team, with four touchdowns and seven interceptions.

The Ravens' offensive woes were evident in last year's 17-10 loss in Pittsburgh, a game in which they dropped seven passes, including multiple potential touchdowns. Additionally, a critical 71-yard catch-and-run touchdown by now-Raven Diontae Johnson sealed the Steelers' victory in the regular-season finale. "They've played well against us, and we haven’t played well against them," Harbaugh admitted. "This is a new game. We don't live in the past."

Scoring has been a persistent issue for Baltimore against Pittsburgh, averaging just 14.9 points per game in their last eight meetings and only surpassing 20 points once. The Steelers boast a formidable defense, ranking second in the league in points allowed per game (16.2) and eighth in yards (302.7).

Pittsburgh's defense has been a model of consistency, particularly with their strong pass rush and run defense. "Every year for the last 17 years, that’s what you could say about Pittsburgh’s defense," Harbaugh noted.

Offensively, the Steelers have found a rhythm with veteran quarterback Russell Wilson, who has led the team to three consecutive victories, scoring a collective 91 points in those games. Although the Ravens have scored 110 points over the same period, Pittsburgh's offense is undeniably in form. Harbaugh expressed respect for Wilson's capabilities, acknowledging the synergy between Wilson's skill set and the team's receivers and offensive line.

Both teams have separated themselves from the pack in the AFC North, with Baltimore holding a three-game lead over the Bengals after a season sweep. Remarkably, this will be Pittsburgh's first divisional game of the season, with six AFC North matchups in the final eight weeks. Sunday's game is pivotal in determining the division leader, though the ultimate decider may come in the Week 16 rematch at M&T Bank Stadium.

As the Ravens and Steelers gear up for another classic AFC North slugfest, Harbaugh emphasized the importance of execution over focusing solely on the stakes. "What matters is how we play," he said. "We go in there and execute, we go in there and play the brand of football that we're used to playing, and then we let the chips fly."